Where in the world do you hail from and what makes this place special?

I am from Pune, India. It is one of the oldest cities in the country and its origins can be traced back to the 6th century. Pune is considered to be the cultural capital of India. Also it is turning into a major research and educational hub.

My favorite thing is to just browse through the questions asked in my favorite categories and answer as many as I can. The satisfaction of answering questions is indescribable. Many times, I come across a question about a topic I recently studied. Trying to answer that question helps me learn new things and also make my concepts clearer.

What life accomplishments are you proud of?

Off the top of my head, I am proud that I was the valedictorian of my school. I hope in the future I will have a very long list to answer this question.

What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done?

I have to confess; one of the most daring things was asking my crush on a date. ;-)

My favorite song changes every month or so. Currently it is ‘Let it Be’. I recently downloaded the Beatles box set and I love this song. Before that my favorite song was The A Team.

What is your favorite poem and why?

My favorite poem is “The Race” by D.H. Groberg. This is a simple yet very inspirational poem about perseverance and finishing something you have started, even though you may have downfalls along the way. It tells us that winning is nothing. More important than winning, it is ‘to rise each time you fall’.

What makes you unique?

I try to look at things differently. For example, in the proverb: ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’, I think moss indicates lethargy and stagnancy. So in my eyes, being a rolling stone is a good thing as you soak up new experiences. And then there is always my DNA to prove my uniqueness.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

I really want to say something like…saving the world, but if a genie really pops out and asks what I want, these are the things I will ask for.

Money…lots and lots of it.

Life till I decide to die.

And the ability to freeze time.

The only challenge would be to frame the requests such that the genie cannot trick me.

Do you view the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’? Why?

Definitely I view it half filled. I try to acknowledge the presence of something rather than its absence. At the same time, I remain aware that there is still a lot of space to be filled.

The most challenging thing is to answer vague questions. I have to try to interpret what the person is really asking or what he really wants to know and answer that. I try not to give vague or incomplete answers. This becomes challenging because, for this, you have to know a lot about a topic.

What are your special interests, hobbies, or collections?

I love debates and elocutions. I act in dramas. I am learning to play the Indian flute called the ‘bansuri.’

What are you most passionate about in your life?

I am most passionate about my country, India. I want India to be called a developed country.

What is your favorite quote and why?

I personally don’t think that quotes have to come from great personalities. A good thought is a good thought, no matter who says it, but in the real world, unless you become ‘Someone’, ‘No one’ is interested in what you have to say. So MY quote is:

‘Be so successful that you are quoted in other people’s quotations.’

Where is one place in the world you would love to visit and why?

Florence

Right now, I want to visit Italy, especially Florence because I am reading Dan Brown’s Inferno and I want to see all the piazzas and various paintings mentioned in his other books.

What is one quirky or interesting random fact about you that most people may not know?

I don’t think it’s very interesting or uncommon, but whenever someone asks me something or in general conversation, I have a very funny (sometimes a bit sarcastic) remark ready in my mind, and sometimes I smile even when it’s not expected.